Ludhiana, February 22
A few days after a seven-year-old boy died after falling in an open manhole, a 60-year-old man became another victim of the negligence of the municipal corporation (MC) when he was run over by a heavy vehicle after his motorcycle skidded on the gravel meant for the beautification of a road divider and scattered on the GT Road near Vishkarma Chowk.

The victim, identified as Sita Ram Malhotra, was going to a factory where he worked as an accountant when the accident took place at 9.45 am today.

According to eyewitnesses, his motorcycle skidded on a heap of gravel and he was crushed under a Tata 407 mini truck from behind. Sita Ram died on the spot. His body was taken to the Civil Hospital for a postmortem.

The driver of the truck fled the spot. The police has registered a case under Section 407-A of the IPC against the unidentified driver for rash driving causing death. The project to beautify road dividers is under way on all major roads of the city and has been a cause of concern for commuters as the debris has not been cleared.

Today’s tragedy was caused by the gravel, but at several other places the dug-up earth has been lined on the roadsides across the city. At places, cemented tiles too have been scattered in the area. This is not the first time that the MC’s negligence has claimed a life. A few days ago, a 7-year-old boy had died after falling in an open manhole.

Ludhiana, February 22
More than grief it is anger against civic officials that has consumed the family members of Sita Ram
Malhotra, who was killed Tuesday after skidding on a heap of gravel scattered on the GT Road by the contractor who had undertaken the project to spruce up street dividers in the city.

‘‘The municipal corporation is responsible for my brother’s tragic death. Had the rubble not been dumped on the road he would’ve been alive today”, said BK
Malhotra, Sita Ram’s brother.

After the tragedy struck the Malhotra family, who reside in the Kundanpuri locality, it filed a complaint with the division no 2 police asserting the civic body should be held accountable for Sita Ram’s death.

‘‘How can the Municipal Corporation justify dumping a heap of gravel on the GT Road? Don’t they know the road is always full of fast moving traffic and it can lead to accidents?’ How can they shake off responsibility now?’’ asked an angry BK
Malhotra. When Sita Ram left his home today morning for a factory at Cheema
Chowk, where he worked as an accountant, his family had not imagined even in their nightmares he would never return. After the tragedy struck they were not able to believe the civic body had not cared to take safety precautions while contracting construction work.

‘‘We’re grief stricken but more than that it is the anger that is not letting us rest, ’’ said Raj Rani, Sita Ram’s 55-year-old widow. “He was my everything - I’ve no idea how will I now live without him. I’m consumed by anger against the civic body. I’ve lost the will to live. Can these people understand my grief? They’re all responsible for my husband’s death,’’ she added.

Sita Ram is survived by two sons and a daugher, all of whom are married.

Meanwhile, city police commissioner Ishwar Singh said: ‘‘We’ll investigate the matter. A case of causing death due to negligence will be filed against the MC if its responsibility for the incident is established.’’

No complaint against MC
by family: Police

Police division no 2 station house officer Surinder Mohan said a case of causing death due to rash driving had been filed against the unidentified driver involved in the incident. ‘‘The deceased’s family members haven’t submitted any complaint against the municipal corporation. However, we’ve booked the driver", he added. This, despite the fact that in their statement to the police, a copy of which is with The Tribune, the Malhotra family had clearly held the MC responsible for their relative's death.

Ludhiana, February 22
The tragic death of a 60-year-old man after he was smothered under rubble on the city’s Vishkarma Road on Tuesday has once again brought to the fore the apathy of civic officials in ensuring safety of residents at construction sites. Despite the issue having been highlighted by The Tribune and repeated complaints by residents, the municipal corporation has failed to stop the common practice of building contractors of dumping construction materials on streets, which resulted in another fatality today.

The incident has once again laid bare the nexus between MC staff and contractors who ignore regulations on proper disposal of construction waste, posing a grave risk to the lives of city residents. Rules are openly flouted
by contractors who are shielded by MC officials and even the basic norms laid down for undertaking construction work on busy roads is seldom implemented.

According to regulations it is the responsibility of civic officials to ensure contractors put up proper safety signs on streets whenever any construction work is going on. If need be, traffic should be diverted to prevent any mishap. However, in a city where human life appears to
have little value all such safety norms are thrown to the wind.

A day after The Tribune recently highlighted how a contractor who had undertaken the work to spruce up the street divider on the city’s busy Ferozepur Road was flouting the regulations, posing a danger to commuters’ lives, MC officials ensured cautionary boards were installed there. However, they forgot to erect there signs on all the other streets where such “beautification” work was being carried out.

The result of which is that a man lost his life
due to accident the onus of which lies purely on MC officials.

The reason is because the engineers employed by the civic body have to ensure the norms are followed but they people hardly bother to get rules implemented.

Rather the officials please the contractors by extending them such largesse where violation of law takes place and simply pass their bills without even checking them. Ultimately it is the common man who suffers due to this negligence of MC
officials and project contractors.

Ludhiana, February 22
Death of an old man at the Vishkarma Chowk has once again proved that the Municipal Corporation is playing with the lives of people.
Officials of the municipal corporation have so far failed to keep a check on open manholes and construction materials lying scattered on roads and net contractor for violating the norms laid by it.

Construction materials lying near a petrol station at Punjabi Bhawan; huge bolders kept near the divider in front of Panjab University’s extension library by a careless contrator; and (right) bolders kept along a divider at Bharat Nagar Chowk on the Feroepur road in Ludhiana . Photos: Inderjeet Verma

This has led to the death of a seven-year-old boy after he had fallen into an open manhole. Today, a motorcycle of an old man skidded on construction material scattered on the road. Construction materials could be seen scattered on all roads of the city. The apathetic attitude of the municipal officials has made these roads unsafe for people to commute.

Ferozepur road or Haibowal road in front of the Panjab University’s regional centre are potential death traps for residents due to the ongoing construction work. Construction materials or debris can be seen scattered all over. The municipal officials have failed to get caution boards in these hazard-prone areas.

Traffic cops and police personnel posted near these busy points for managing traffic are also insensitive towards people. They could be seen issuing challans for meeting their annual target. But, they hardly bother to ask municipal officials to remove this nuisance from road, which not only hinders traffic flow but also threaten lives of the residents.

It is unfortunate that an individual has lost his life due to contractor’s or authorities negligence. The municipal corporation should strictly adhere to the rules pertaining to signboards so as to caution commuters about any diversion. Construction material and debris scattered on roads should be cleared immediately.

— Dr Kulwant Singh, IMA chief, Ludhiana

Municipal officials should do work when they aren’t busy. More people could die as rules are not being followed. People are passing through a tough phase due to administrative apathy

— Kamaljeet Soi, expert on traffic

The MC is openly flouting rules. It is illegal to scatter construction materials on roads. Officials must be made accountable for it.

Ludhiana, February 22
Rich city residents have no coins it seems. This strange fact came forth during a special camp for exchanging coins, soiled and torn notes organised by a bank here today. During the camp, coins worth
Rs 300 and in the denominations of 25, 20 and 10 paise were exchanged. The scarcity of coins led a large number of residents to make the optimum use of the camp and convert their currency into coins worth
Rs 4 lakh.

“Very few people have coins of 10, 20 and 25 paise, besides
Rs 5. The RBI has asked people to exchange coins below the denomination of 25 paise. Surprisingly, city residents just exchanged coins worth
Rs 300 and a large number of them came to the camp to actually get coins,” said Gurinder Singh of HDFC Bank. “We gave coins worth
Rs 4 lakh. Coins of Rs 5 were the most sought-after,” he added.

Rajwinder Singh, a visitor at the camp, said he bought coins of
Rs 5 for Rs 200. “Coins are hardly in circulation these days. This camp came as a good opportunity to procure coins,” he said.

MR Garg, DGM, Reserve Bank of India, Chandigarh, said more such camps should be held for the benefit of the public.

Humble coins in demand at camp

The coins of Rs 5 denomination were in demand at the exchange camp. People also evinced keen interest in buying coins of Re 1 and
Rs 2 denominations. Torn and soiled currency in lieu of fresh currency notes and coins for
Rs 47.5 lakh in the denominations ranging from Re 1 to Rs 1,000 were exchanged at the camp.

Ludhiana, February 22
Meet 84-year-old Bhavish Rai Dhanda - the first student of the first batch of the Government College for Women, which was established in the city during the British Raj in 1943. During those times when protest strikes were rare among the student community, she took the lead in forcing the college to close in support of Indian independence activists whose trial began on November 5, 1945 at Delhi’s Red Fort.

Sharing her memories with the Ludhiana Tribune, Dhanda, who had come Tuesday to attend an “old students' meet” at the college as its oldest alumnus, said: "Those were the golden days. We were a group of 25 students - the first batch of the college - with just two teachers. The principal, S Sen, was a young and beautiful woman from Lahore College”.

"The college started from a small bungalow, which is now Gujranwala Khalsa College. There were no benches or chairs, we used to sit in the open lush green lawns. Even during those times, when families were conservative, half of the girl students were Muslims. Except for two or three girls, most of them girls used to wear a burqa (veil). But there was no crime and we used to come to the college all alone", she noted.

On asking what changes, if any, in the college she observed now, Dhanda said: “A lot of independence has been given to girls these days. The science stream was available in the boys' colleges but girls were into limited humanity courses in our times”.

"We couldn’t wear revealing dresses -we knew our limits well. With the changing times independence is a must for girls but they should realize what is right and wrong for them. Our parents used to be very close to us. Today parents need to spend quality time with their wards. Parents must import moral values to the young generation”, Dhanda averred.

Meanwhile, the old students had a gala time at their annual meet on the college campus today. Principal Gurminder Kaur, who also heads the Old Students' Association, presided over the alumni meet.

Gurminder said the Old Students' Association was a
very old group of the college and was set up in 1954. “This association has played a pivotal role in bringing both old and new students of the college together. It has contributed to the college’s growth in many ways", she added.

Gurminder also thanked the association members for providing a number of scholarships to meritorious and needy students of the college.

On the occasion students of the music and dance departments presented a cultural show and enthralled the audience. Five old students and retired teachers were also honoured. They included Dr Suman Sharda, a noted physician, Ajit Bhalla, former head of the college’s music department, PC Kumbkarni, a well-known zoologist and former lecturer at the college, Sherry Sabharwal, professor of sociology at Panjab University, Chandigarh and Chitleen Sethi, special correspondent with an English newspaper.

Gurminder also welcomed retired principals and lecturers of the college present on the occasion.

Ludhiana, February 22
Beekeepers in the region are unhappy with the apathetic attitude of the state government towards beekeeping.
They rued that neither the state government nor the Union government had taken any initiative to promote the beekeeping industry which could have done wonders.
Whatever the farmers (beekeeping) have achieved so far is the result of their sole efforts and hardwork.

The state government has done nothing to boost the honey industry.

Beekeepers from all over Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh have gathered at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) for three days to participate in the Honey Festival being organised by the entomology department of the university.

Beekeepers from Ludhiana, Ferozepur, Ropar, Samrala, Jalandhar, Fatehgarh Sahib, Muktsar and even from Haryana and Himachal Pradesh have come to the university to display various products in the festival.

Bhag Singh Sohi, retired senior entomologist, PAU, said, “Stalls lack a representation by government agencies. The government is not interested in promoting beekeeping. Political leaders keep stressing on the need to promote agriculture, dairy farming, poultry farming and pisciculture, but not beekeeping. The reality is that we can do wonders, if the government supports us. We can produce top-class honey. It’s the best preservative.”

Sewa Singh, another beekeeper, said certain beekeepers were exporting honey to more than 40 countries, including America, Europe and Indonesia. But there were a few who could not export honey products, as they needed the government’s help for marketing purposes, he added.

“It seems that the government is not interested in extending support to beekeepers which is very disgusting,” he said.

COMMUNITY

Self Immolation

PUDA official gets 15 days to submit report
Mohit Khanna
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, February 22
An inquiry into self-immolation of a retired senior-lab assistant, Jeet Singh, who committed suicide by setting himself afire after pouring kerosene in front of the deputy commissioner’s office on December 20, faces roadblocks, after the additional deputy commissioner, (Development) could not hold the pressure put forth by various factions. He, finally, handed over the report to Deputy Commissioner, Rahul Tewari, here yesterday.

Additional Chief Administrator of PUDA, Dr Jaswant Singh, would further investigate the case and submit a report to the deputy commissioner within 15 days.

These steps were taken after members of the Universal Human Rights Organisation handed over a memorandum to Naranjan Singh, chairman, Punjab State Schedule Caste Commission, demanding independent and time-bound probe into the case.

Universal Human Rights Organisation president, Satnam Singh Dhaliwal, said: “We have urged the administration to immediately transfer the principal. We also want to know whom did Jeet Singh met before committing suicide. We feel that the victim was humiliated to an extent that he committed suicide.”

The organisation also demanded a registration of case against the accused and magisterial probe in this regard.

Jeet Singh (58), a resident of Guram village near here, who retired as a senior laboratory assistant from Government Senior Secondary School, Dehlon, committed suicide by setting himself afire after pouring petrol on his body in the city’s crowded mini secretariat December 20. He was rushed to the Civil Hospital. He succumbed to his burn injuries on reaching the hospital.

The incident had sparked a series of protests by the NGO, which claimed that Jeet Singh was harassed and forced to commit suicide.

Ludhiana: A farewell party was organised for Class XII students of Spring Dale Senior Secondary Public School. Founder principal and school director Avinash Kaur Walia accompanied by principal Sandeep Raikhi, headmistress Kamalpreet Kaur, NRI guests from the US and Canada Parminder Singh Walia, Tejinder Singh Garry, Inderjeet Singh Walia, Renu Walia and Ravinder Rampuri cut the ribbon and inaugurated the show. A cultural bonanza of shabad, choreography, group song and magic show was held. Avinash Kaur Walia presented mementos to Class XII students and motivated them to achieve great heights of success in their lives.

Programme

DAV Public School, BRS Nagar, under the aegis of DAV College Managing Committee, New Delhi, organised an orientation programme on communication module/ document centre on its premises here today. Around 150 delegates, including 17 principals from 60 DAV Schools of Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir attended the programme. Kuldeep Bhardwaj from Public Schools’ Cell and Gopal Mishra of EDP Section conducted the second round. Mishra, in his inaugural speech, highlighted the efforts made by the management committee to streamline the flow of information and correspondence. Vijay Kumar, regional director, Patiala, and Ferozepur zone, said the programme aimed at equipping delegates with the latest know-how of e-communication.
— TNS

Ludhiana, February 22
In defiance of the Supreme Court order against the playing of loud music and bursting crackers between 10 pm and 6 am, marriage palaces and resorts in and around the city are doing so even after midnight.

In the wake of the ongoing wedding season, marriage palaces and resorts within the city and outside the MC limits are using loudspeakers and DJ systems well into the night.

In the absence of proper means for garbage disposal and insufficient parking, the marriage palaces and resorts on Pakhowal Road, Ferozepur Road and other parts of the city are contributing to traffic jams and garbage dumps.

A group of 15 residents of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar said they were unable to sleep due to the deafening music being played past midnight at a resort.

Dinesh Kapila, a resident, said: “It is strange that the police only issues orders for the implementation of the order, but has failed to take action against the erring marriage palaces and resorts.”

Some of them do not have sufficient parking. As a result, makeshift parking arrangements appear on the roadside, inconveniencing commuters. Sometimes, patients who need immediate hospitalisation are caught up in such traffic jams.

Also, with examinations in schools and colleges around the corner, loud music is a nuisance for students as they are unable to concentrate on their studies.

Recent order

Deputy Commissioner of Police Yurinder Singh recently banned the use of crackers from 10 pm to 6 am. Loudspeakers exceeding 10 db are also not allowed. Strict action will be taken against people using pressure horns and sirens, an order stated.

Managing traffic

Instead of taking action against marriage palaces/resorts playing loud music, the traffic police can be seen monitoring traffic outside such venues. Cops do nothing even as the “baraat” bursts crackers well past 10 pm. The reason: some top officer from the police department is usually a “special invitee” to the wedding.

Ludhiana, February 22
Residents of Mahima Singh Wala village, along with panchayat members of Narangwal and Lohgarh villages, staged protest against the Khanna police for falsely booking a
youth in a robbery case outside the DIG’s office here yesterday.

The youth, identified as Rajdeep, was shown to have been arrested from a police check post from near the Doom bridge on February 17. A country-made weapon was also recovered from the youth.

Joginder Singh, sarpanch of Mahima Singh Wala
village, claimed that the youth was summoned to the Khanna police station on February 14.

The panchayat members alleged that they along with the youth tried to meet SSP Khanna, DP Singh,
but were not allowed to meet him.

“The reader of the SSP informed a CIA staff officer about their presence and got the youth arrested. They were not allowed to meet the youth even in police custody. They were shocked to read February 17 newspaper that the youth was nabbed from near the Doom bridge,” the sarpanch added.

Gurmukh Singh, sarpanch of Narangwal village, has demanded a probe in this regard.

DIG, Paramraj Singh Umranangal, has marked an inquiry after a
complaint was lodged in this regard. The DIG has directed Jagraon SSP, Gursharan Singh, to probe into the matter.

Jagraon, February 22
Irked over the non-issuance of job cards to workers under NAREGA scheme, activists of the Pendu Mazdoor Union, Punjab, held a protest outside the office of Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO) yesterday.

A large number of activists, including women, took part in
the protest and raised slogans against the BDPO. The activists also burnt
an effigy of the SAD government.

General secretary of the union Avtar Singh Rasoolpur stated that the state government had
completely failed to implement the NAREGA scheme in Punjab.

“Despite the state government’s assurance, the BDPO did not issue job cards to workers under the scheme,” rued the union leaders.

“Rising prices of essential commodities have already burnt a hole in
the common man’s pocket. Despite working hard, it has become difficult for a poor person to make both ends meet,” said district president Sukhdev Singh.

The speakers said due to inflation and wrong policies of the government, the gap between the rich and the poor was widening.

Blaming the state government for the poor condition of farmers, the speakers demanded jobs for the underprivileged section of society, free power up to 200 units to poor families and allotment of houses to Dalits.

Ludhiana, February 22
Agonised over the condition of their 14-year-old son Girish, who is suffering from chest pain, the boy’s parents have called upon philanthropists to help them financially.
Girish, a student Class IX, boy has been diagnosed with lumps in his chest about a year ago and needs immediate surgery.

“It hurts to see that our son owing to his ill-health is unable to lead a normal life. Doctors have advised us to take him for a surgery at an advanced centre in New Delhi. We are unable to do so due to the paucity of funds,” said Raj, Girish’s father.

‘‘We need Rs 70,000 for his surgery, but it is impossible to arrange the money as my income is limited and we don’t have any other recourses,” the father added.

Those interested in contributing for Girish can call his father on cell phone 99158-94711.

Ludhiana, February 22
A youth, claiming to be an NRI, fled away with a new car while taking the test drive near Sahnewal at 12.40 pm today.
He asked the employee of the company, sitting next to the driver’s seat to get down and fled away with the car. No case has been registered in this regard so far. However, the police has started investigating the case.

Owner of MRG Auto Limited, GT Road, Sherpur Chowk, Ishwar Garg, said this was making rounds of the company for the past two to three days. "Today, he asked us to send someone for a test drive. Rajan, one of our employees, accompanied him for the test drive. He told the employee that he wanted to take the test drive for longer duration. He asked Rajan to get down from the car near Sahnewal by pointing a weapon towards him. On being threatened, Rajan immediately got down out of the car,” Garg said adding that the person was wearing a cap.

"Since this high-end Verna model was not available two-days ago, we had asked for his telephone number. Since he was an NRI, he was still to get a new mobile connection. He even gave an address of Phillaur but it was found to be fake", said Ishwar Garg.

In charge of the Sherpur police post, Dalip Singh, said investigations were on, case would soon be registered in this regard.

Jagraon, February 22
The Ludhiana (rural) police has booked a person for abducting a minor girl of Roomi village near Jagraon. The girl was abducted by the accused from her house at Roomi village last week on the pretext of marriage.

Abducted girl’s mother, who resides at Roomi village, alleged that a youth from Jhoraran village near Raikot abducted her minor daughter on the night of February 10 when all members of the family were asleep.

The accused has been identified as Sawaran Singh of Jhoraran village near Raikot. A case has been registered against Sawaran Singh on a complaint lodged by the victim’s mother at the Chowkiman police post. Sub-Inspector, Mohammad Jameel said a complaint in this regard was received yesterday. “Raids are being conducted to nab the accused and rescue the girl,” he added.
— TNS

SPORTS

Punjab games to be a gala affair
Anil Datt

Ludhiana, February 22
Preparations are on for the upcoming Shaheed-e-Azam Punjab State Games for men and women to be held at four venues in the state-Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Mohali and Patiala from February 28 to March 6.

The state-of-the art sports complex, Guru Nanak Stadium, Ludhiana, will be the venue for opening ceremony of the sports extravaganza in which more than 5,000 sportspersons, along with officials, will be taking part.

Flood lights in the main stadium are being checked and the faulty ones will
be removed or repaired, while over 1,000 chairs are being replaced in different enclosures.

The Punjab government has sanctioned Rs 46 lakh for the opening ceremony of the event, besides renovation of the stadium and stay of large number of sportspersons in the city.

Harpal Singh Kanwar, deputy director, Sports, Jalandhar division, along with former deputy director Hazari Lal and Sat Pal Singh, district sports officer, Ludhiana, will make arrangements for boarding and lodging of players and officials and also take care of their transportation and medical assistance.

Various sub-committees have been formed, with Additional Deputy Commissioner SR Kaler being the nodal officer.

Teams from the municipal corporation and Punjab Mandi Board have been assisting the Punjab sports department officials in updating the available sports infrastructure for
the event.

Cine star Akshay Kumar and his troupe will be the main attraction at the opening ceremony, while famous Punjabi artiste Harbhajan Mann will entertain the
spectators. An impressive cultural programme is also being chalked out for the occasion. The closing ceremony will be held in Jalandhar on March 6

Ludhiana will be hosting basketball, athletics, football and kabaddi matches, while Mohali will be hosting
rifle shooting. Boxing, wrestling and weightlifting will be held in Patiala, while Jalandhar will play host to hockey matches.

Ludhiana, February 22
The team comprising interns
proved too good for the team of students of first year whom they beat 4-0 in a football match on the first day of the three-day Sardar Jawala Singh Memorial Annual Sports Meet at Baba Jaswant Singh Dental College, Chandigarh road, here today.

In a tug-of-war, final year students overpowered second year students and in carrom (girls), Ridhi beat Bhavya and in chess, Heena drew with Sukriti.

Chairman of the host college Baba Jaswant Singh inaugurated the meet. Principal DS Kalsi, along with members of the college management committee and faculty members, was present on the occasion.

Ludhiana, February 22
Mandeep Singh emerged winners in the 800m race on the opening day of 91st annual athletics meet of Satish Chander Dhawan Government College here today.
Another student Surinder Singh followed him
closely to finish as a runner-up, while Amandeep Singh secured the third position.

Competition in various track and field events
were held today in which a large number of students took part.

Rahul Tiwari, Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana, was the chief guest.

He declared the meet open. Principal of the college Jasbir Kaur Makkar welcomed the chief guest.

She read out the annual report and highlighted achievements of the college. Prof DS Chahal, head of the physical education department, said around 35 students of the college represented Panjab University in different inter-university tournaments.